New Stitch Guide Source and Sales

Julie Pischke's Sassy Sea Horse

Last night I--you guessed it--did more tent stitches in Cha's background.  Today I'll be able to continue stitching the left wing.  It just took a very long time to surround the area with tent stitches so that I wouldn't disturb the wing stitches by doing background next to them.  On the positive side, there is only about a quarter of the background left to stitch after this week's background stitch marathon. Look on the bright side, I always say!

I posted a new entry on the CH Stitch Guides blog this morning.  It's all about French Knot in Texas, their revamped website, and the huge number of stitch guides available from them.  You'll want to check it out to see if your favorite designer canvas has a guide from French Knot.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2010/07/stitch-guide-heaven-french-knot.html

I stumbled across a mention of Peacock Alley Needlepoint in Michigan's having a 20-40% off sale of everything in their store (except for their Shorebirds trunk show and the Michigan kits plus their threads are 10% off).  They specifically mention all the Lee leather goods being on sale as well as the HP lacquered boxes they have in stock. All in all, a good time to go shopping but remember that the sale ends July 31st.
http://www.peacockalleyneedlepoint.com/Peacock_Alley_Needlepoint/Home.html

Finally, Old World Designs in California is having a Julie Pischke trunk show this month as well as a special show of circus-themed canvases from many designers.  If you love summery beach canvases inspired by Key West or are a Big Tent fan (who isn't?) you will want to check these out in person the next time you can get to Menlo Park and the shop.  Sadly, there aren't many photos online, but if you want to explore Julie's website and then call the shop, check the second link.  Got a favorite circus canvas?  Email them to see if it is available and get the cost.
http://www.oldworlddesigns.com/

http://www.juliepischkedesigns.com/index.shtml

The Stitching Destashing Blog has just listed new items.  There are a lot of small Christmas-themed painted canvases and quite a few very nice counted thread projects.  Have a browse.
http://www.stitchingdestashing.blogspot.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Almost Forgot!

I was so distracted by Judy Harper's angel designs this morning I forgot one link I meant to add in the last posting--a trunk show of Canvas Works*Traditions designs, all 20% off.  We can't pass up a good sale!
http://store.apneedlearts.com/catrtrshcoso.html

The photo is of their Oriole.  Lovely, isn't it?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

River Silks, Stitch Guides and Other Things

Duke Designs

Yesterday I managed more tent stitches on Cha's background.  I really need to surround her wings with background stitches before I continue the feathery stitches, so it has been a dull few days for Blog readers and myself.  However, I did manage to write a bit about River Silks stitch guides on the Stitch Guides Blog.

You'll have to head over there to read about the silk ribbon embroidery guides for painted canvases that they provide free for painted canvases from a huge range of designers.  By the way, the illustration for this blog posting is a photo of the marvelous silk ribbon embroidery piece I saw at Woodlawn and loved last March.  The canvas is from Keri Designs and was stitched entirely in River Silks ribbons by Lynn Krynicki Bayer.  It's a large piece, probably 3 feet tall and a foot wide, and marvelous in person.  Sadly, there isn't a stitch guide for it.  Perhaps River Silks will release one.  It's really beautiful and unusual.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2010/07/river-silks-ribbon-painted-canvas.html

Here is the Keri Designs website.  Green Bamboo is in the Eastern Collection if you are interested.
http://keridesigns.com/needlepoint.php

I'm half-way through writing a second article for Stitch Guides blog that I hope to have ready tomorrow morning.  Stay tuned!

On other news, if you love angels, you'll want to keep up with what Judy Harper is doing on her blog.  Judy's digging through her archives, looking at older angel designs she has done and creating new ones.  Start here and then just browse back a few pages.  Every time you see an angel photo, stop and read.  I'm particularly fond of the Art Nouveau angel (July 15, 2010) but you may find your own angel (the Iris Angel of April 18th is lovely) among Judy's photos.
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/

Judy is doing all this work in preparation for creating new angel designs on painted canvas.  The Heavenly Angels currently available for sale are on her Elegant Whimsies website.
http://elegantwhimsies.com/joomla/
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/

Of course some of us find masculine canvases more to our taste (or the tastes of those we stitch presents for).  If so, you'll love seeing the Planes, Trains and Automobiles canvases PFOS has to offer.  There are some real classics here!
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/planes-trains-and-automobiles.html



Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Where to Start and Monthly Clubs

As promised I am working more tent stitched background on Cha. Pretty boring for you but luckily I'm not the only NP blogger in existence.  Anne of ABS Designs has created one of her door canvases for a shop owner and is explaining on her blog just where to start stitching a painted canvas with it as an example.  The story starts with her July 12 entry.  Start there and follow Anne's stitching adventure forward in time as she takes "little bites" out of her canvas.
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/

Are you a fan of Needle Works in Austin?  You'll love seeing photos of the new shop and their redesigned website.  The shop photos are in a photo album at the first link.  The new website is the second link.  It's not all finished yet but the online shop is the same and open for business.  Have fun!  Take special note of the Kelly Clark trunk show that is just starting with 20% off prices and look at the Pose Purses tiny photo on the website home page.  That's the new monthly club.
http://theneedleworks.typepad.com/photos/new_store/index.html

http://theneedleworks.com/

Speaking of monthly clubs and redesigned websites, I have a whole slew of new things for you to explore.  The French Knot in Texas has redesigned their website.  Monthly club fans will want to explore all the clubs they offer for 2010 and take a look back at older clubs since French Knot has been offering them for more than three years.  You can find the clubs by choosing Gallery: Current Series from the drop down menus.
http://www.thefrenchknot.com/index.htm

Want to do something abstract and different for your monthly club?  How about the French Fleur de Lis club at The Elegant Needle?
http://www.theelegantneedle.com/canvas_clubs

2 the Point is doing a candy cane series that will make for quick and easy designs for Christmas ornaments and...
http://www.topoint.com/finishingcane.htm

...they are doing a seasonal bird series.
http://www.topoint.com/finishing2010qrtly.htm

Finally, this week I've posted photos of flowers and plants from my yard. I get tired of looking at the more usual pastel portrait of me and thought I'd do something a bit more interesting that would allow me to explore how to do better photos in the right hand column.  My experiment will end today with a photo of my potted hostas and I'll return to the more usual portrait tomorrow.  Hope you enjoyed the pretty flowers!

Now I'm back to doing more tent stitches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Breaking News

My spies tell me that Elaine Magnin is going out of business.  I've been wondering about the lack of canvases on their website for the last 6 weeks, so I imagine that the news is correct.  I think California stores have been very hard hit by the lingering recession.
http://www.elainemagnin.com/

Anyone who actually gets to visit the shop in San Francisco before they close their doors please convey my appreciation for their store and staff.   If you have a favorite shop in California, please support them by buying something if you can.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow